Seat suspension



J. D. COUCH SEAT SUSPENSION une 14, 1932.

Filed Nov. 19. 1931 J19. 6235? BY QM;

ATTORNEYS l atented June 14, 1932,

UNITED STATES JEAN D. COUCH, OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA SEAT SUSPENSIONApplication filed November 19, 1931. Serial No. [76,149.

This invention relates to furniture and, among other objects, aims toprovide an improved suspension for swinging seats commonly calledgliders which are usually mounted on fabricated, metal supportingframes. The main idea is to produce improved and eflicient suspensionelements and connections which permit free swinging movement of the seatand, at the same time,

prevent undue side sway.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in thespecification when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

16 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a support and seat frame illustratingthe preferred form of suspension;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sus- 2 pension elements.

Ordinary gliding chairs and davenports having four-point suspensions andutilizing flexible suspension elements are subject to side sway whichoften causes dizziness.

Moreover, the swinging seat frames frequently strike the supportingframes and arrest the swinging movement at one or both sides. Also, theupholstery on covered seats and supports is often torn or damaged bysuch movements. This invention provides a relatively simple suspensionfor gliders wherein rigid suspension members are employed and are soconnected with respect to the seat frame as to arrest swaying movementof the seat.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the preferred form of suspensionis illustrated as being applied to the metal framework of a glider couchor davenport having the usual seat portion 10 mounted between spacedpairs of vertical standards or supports 11 which are conveniently madeof structural angles secured at their lower ends to feet 12.Horizontal'suspending bars or rails 13 are riveted or otherwise securedto their upper ends. The supporting standards are preferably connectedby horizontal frame members 14 above the feet and have short anglebraces 15 at the corners to make the support rigid. Also, r thestandards preferably have short angle braces 16 at the upper and lowerends conpending elements will be to overcome the nected to the top railsand the feet respectively to make the supports rigid.

The top rails or bars overhang horizontal arms 17 of Z-shaped brackets18 projecting from and secured to the four corners of the 5 seat frame.These brackets are shown as extending well below the seat frame toprovide for relatively long suspension elements or hangers and the arms17 extend beyond the supporting standards 11 to provide adequate lengthfor suspending each of them at two points spaced from a vertical planethrough the rail 13 above. These brackets are shown as having anglebraces 19 connected to the seat frame 10 and at the bent portions of thehorizontal arms 17.

Inaccordance with the present invention, the seat frame is suspendedfrom the ends of top rails 13 by means of Tshaped suspension elements orhangers 20 conveniently made of bar iron or strap metal. In thisinstance the suspension elements are each made of two pieces of strapmetal riveted together as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It is obvious,however, that they may be made of one piece or may be otherwise rigidlysecured together. Each suspension element or hanger is pivotally securedwith respect to its supporting rail by means of a double hook 521- bentto perniit it to swing in the plane of the vertical rail flange. Thelower end or cross piece of each element is connected at spaced pointsto one of the horizontal arms 17 also by means of S-shaped hooks 22providing a flexible connection between the suspension element and thearms;

As will be noted in Fig. 1, the distance between the hooks 22 or pointsof suspension is such that, when the seat frame sways to one side or theother. the load is shifted to only one of the hooks. Since both pointsof suspension at each corner are spaced from a vertical line through theupper point of suspension, the natural tendency of the suso5 swayingmovement of the seat frame and restore it to its normal position. Thus,it will be seen that the suspension elements or hangers normally holdthe seat frame in its proper position to swing back and forth. Moremoover, the connections are such that the horizontal arms 17 to which thehangers are con nected, serve to limit the back and forth swingingmovement of the seat by striking the uprights 11.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improvedsuspension elements or hangers and their connections are especiallyuseful on gliding davenports, couches, chairs and the like. Furthermore,when the frames and supports are made of metal, the hangers are veryeffective to prevent side sway and the consequent discomfort tooccupants as well as damage to upholstery. Also, the construction of thehangers is such as to avoid the possibility of in ury to the hand of anoccupant who happens to grip them while the seat is in motion. They arenot easily stretched or distorted so as to require adjustments.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,

since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

\Vhat is claimed is: v

1. In combination with a swinging seat of the character described, asupporting frame including uprights having horizontal rails; bracketsrigidly connected to the seat portion and extending beyond the uprightsat the corners of the seat; rigid T-shaped suspension elements havingvertical arms pivotally connected with respect to said rails; and meansconnecting the ends of the horizontal arms of the T-shaped elements atspaced points to the extending ends of the said brackets whereby toprevent swaying movement of the seat.

2. An article of furniture comprising, in combination, a metal seatframe having sub stantially Z-shaped brackets at its corners eachpresenting a substantially horizontal suspending arm below the level ofthe seat portion; a supporting frame having pairs of uprights arrangedbetween the suspending arms at the opposite sides of the seat frame;

each pivotally connected at its upper end to the overhanging end of arail member and having a rigidly connected cross member at its lowerend; and hook members connecting the opposite ends of each of said crossmembers to the respective arms on opposite sides of each hanger elementand maintaining the arms substantially parallel with the cross members,said connections being such as to prevent side sway of the frame.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature.

JEAN D. COUCH.

a rail member on each pair of uprights overhanging said suspending arms;and rigid hanger elements each having a vertical bar suspended at onepoint from the end of one of the rails and a horizontal cross barconnected at spaced points on opposite sides of the vertical bar to oneof said arms.

3. An article of furniture of the class described comprising, incombination, a metal seat frame having laterally projecting armsprojecting from its corner portions; Vertical supporting frames arrangedbetween said arms at the opposite sides of the seat frame and eachhaving a rail member overhanging said arms; and rigid, metal hangerelements

